Photosynthetic Variability of Oblačinska Sour Cherry Ecotypes under Drought.

The selection of drought-tolerant sour cherry genotypes is essential for developing sustainable fruit production in today's climate-change conditions. The phenotypic heterogenic population of sour cherry Oblačinska, with high and regular yield suitable for mechanical harvesting and industrial processing, is a traditional and predominant cultivar in northern Croatia (Pannonian region) and Serbia commercial orchards. In this context, 2-year old virus-free sour cherry plants of 4 isolated Oblačinska sour cherry ecotypes (OS, 18, D6, and BOR) produced by micropropagation were exposed to severe drought in a greenhouse under semi-controlled conditions to evaluate its photosynthetic intra-varietal variability.

The Association between Circadian Clock Gene Polymorphisms and Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of cardiovascular risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. The circadian clock gene polymorphisms are very likely to participate in metabolic syndrome genesis and development. However, research findings of the association between circadian rhythm gene polymorphisms and MetS and its comorbidities are not consistent.

The Combination of Increased Temperatures and High Irradiation Causes Changes in Photosynthetic Efficiency.

Global warming and the associated climate change are imposing abiotic stress on plants. Abiotic factors are crucial for plant productivity, survival, and reproduction. Eight sunflower hybrids were tested in conditions of different water availability and with combinations of different temperatures and irradiation.

Complex lumenal immunophilin AtCYP38 influences thylakoid remodelling in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Investigations of the luminal immunophilin AtCYP38 (cyclophilin 38) in Arabidopsis thaliana (At), the orthologue of the complex immunophilin TLP40 from Spinacia oleracea, revealed its involvement in photosystem II (PSII) repair and assembly, biogenesis of PSII complex, and cellular signalling. However, the main physiological roles of AtCYP38 and TLP40 are related to regulation of thylakoid PP2A-type phosphatase involved in PSII core protein dephosphorylation, and chaperone function during protein folding. Here we further investigate physiological roles of AtCYP38 and analyse the ultrastructure of chloroplasts from cyp38-2 plants.

Early Crops Responses to Salinity Stress: A Comparative Analysis Between Chinese Cabbage, White Cabbage, and Kale.

Soil salinity is severely affecting crop productivity in many countries, particularly in the Mediterranean area. To evaluate early plant responses to increased salinity and characterize tolerance markers, three important crops - Chinese cabbage ( ssp. ), white cabbage ( var.

Lignin synthesis and accumulation in barley cultivars differing in their resistance to lodging.

Since lignin greatly affects stem strength, which is an important agronomical trait, understanding the relationship between lodging resistance and lignin synthesis is important in barley breeding and selection processes. The aim of the study was to reveal the connection between physiological aspects of lignin synthesis and genetic background of barley cultivars with different lodging phenotype. Three barley cultivars Astor, Scarlett and Jaran were compared by measuring lignin, cellulose and total soluble phenolics content, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (PAL) and expression of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) and cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) in three lower internodes at flowering and grain filling stage.

Correlations between Phytohormones and Drought Tolerance in Selected Crops: Chinese Cabbage, White Cabbage and Kale.

Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting the productivity of crops. To understand the role of phytohormones in drought tolerance, we subjected Chinese cabbage ( ssp. ), white cabbage ( var.

Cell-Type-Specific Modulation of Hydrogen Peroxide Cytotoxicity and 4-Hydroxynonenal Binding to Human Cellular Proteins In Vitro by Antioxidant Extract.

Although contains numerous bioactive components, the activity principles of widely used extracts are uncertain. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of genuine aqueous extract (AV) on human cells with respect to the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Fully developed leaves were harvested and analyzed for vitamin C, carotenoids, total soluble phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity.

Short-term salt stress in Brassica rapa seedlings causes alterations in auxin metabolism.

Salinity is one of major abiotic stresses affecting Brassica crop production. Here we present investigations into the physiological, biochemical, and hormonal components of the short-term salinity stress response in Chinese cabbage seedlings, with particular emphasis on the biosynthesis and metabolism of auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Upon salinity treatments (50-200 mM NaCl) IAA level was elevated in a dose dependent manner reaching 1.

Differential accumulation of photosynthetic proteins regulates diurnal photochemical adjustments of PSII in common fig (Ficus carica L.) leaves.

Molecular processes involved in photosystem II adaptation of woody species to diurnal changes in light and temperature conditions are still not well understood. Regarding this, here we investigated differences between young and mature leaves of common fig (Ficus carica L.) in photosynthetic performance as well as accumulation of the main photosynthetic proteins: light harvesting complex II, D1 protein and Rubisco large subunit.

Response of Lemna minor L. to short-term cobalt exposure: The effect on photosynthetic electron transport chain and induction of oxidative damage.

The effect of two concentrations of cobalt (Co(2+)) on photosynthetic activity and antioxidative response in Lemna minor L. were assessed 24, 48 and 72h after the start of the exposure. Higher concentration of cobalt (1mM) induced growth inhibition while lower concentration (0.

Growth and photosynthetic responses of Lemna minor L. exposed to cadmium in combination with zinc or copper.

Metals have a variety of negative outcomes on plants, essential components of any ecosystem. The effects of CdCl2 (5 μmol L-1), ZnCl2 (25 or 50 μmol L-1), and CuCl2 (2.5 or 5 μmol L-1) and combinations of CdCl2 with either ZnCl2 or CuCl2 on the growth, photosynthetic pigments, and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency of duckweed (Lemna minor L.

TROL-FNR interaction reveals alternative pathways of electron partitioning in photosynthesis.

In photosynthesis, final electron transfer from ferredoxin to NADP(+) is accomplished by the flavo enzyme ferredoxin:NADP(+) oxidoreductase (FNR). FNR is recruited to thylakoid membranes via integral membrane thylakoid rhodanase-like protein TROL. We address the fate of electrons downstream of photosystem I when TROL is absent.

Quantitative genetic analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters in maize in the field environments.

Chlorophyll fluorescence transient from initial to maximum fluorescence ("P" step) throughout two intermediate steps ("J" and "I") (JIP-test) is considered a reliable early quantitative indicator of stress in plants. The JIP-test is particularly useful for crop plants when applied in variable field environments. The aim of the present study was to conduct a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for nine JIP-test parameters in maize during flowering in four field environments differing in weather conditions.

Degradation of chloroplast DNA during natural senescence of maple leaves.

The fate of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) during plastid development and conversion between various plastid types is still not very well understood. This is especially true for the cpDNA found in plastids of naturally senescing leaves. Here, we describe changes in plastid nucleoid structure accompanied with cpDNA degradation occurring during natural senescence of the free-growing deciduous woody species Acer pseudoplatanus L.

Changes in photosynthetic performance and antioxidative strategies during maturation of Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) leaves.

Different structural and functional changes take place during leaf development. Since some of them are highly connected to oxidative metabolism, regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) abundance is required. Most of the reactive oxygen species ROS in plant cells are produced in chloroplasts as a result of highly energetic reactions of photosynthesis.

Effect of indole-3-butyric acid on phytoplasmas in infected Catharanthus roseus shoots grown in vitro.

Phytoplasmas are noncultivable bacteria usually maintained in Catharanthus roseus shoots grown in vitro on MS medium with benzylaminopurine. The aim of our research was to examine the influence of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on C. roseus shoots infected with three different phytoplasma strains.

Differential accumulation of plastid preprotein translocon components during spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) needle development.

We demonstrate that basic components of the plastid protein-import apparatus originally found in pea, Toc34, Toc159, and Tic110, are also conserved in evolutionarily younger gymnosperms. We show that multiple isoforms of the preprotein receptor Toc34 differentially accumulate in various stages of needle development, while the amounts of Toc159 drastically decrease during chloroplast morphogenesis. Spruce Toc34 and Toc159 receptors are able to recognise and interact with the angiosperm precursor of the Rubisco small subunit.